Current:Home > StocksChris Christie makes surprise visit to Ukraine, meets with Zelenskyy-LoTradeCoin
Chris Christie makes surprise visit to Ukraine, meets with Zelenskyy
View Date:2024-12-23 23:44:13
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie made an unannounced trip to Ukraine Friday, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and visiting Bucha and Moshchun, two sites devastated by the war with Russia, now in its second year.
Christie visited Bucha, where over 1,000 civilians are believed to have been killed by Russian troops last year. Many of the bodies showed evidence of torture. Last spring, upon liberating Bucha from Russian control, Ukrainians found civilians who had been shot in the head with their hands bound and mass graves filled with hundreds of bodies. Christie met with Bucha's mayor and visited the site of a mass grave.
In Kyiv, Zelenskyy thanked Christie for visiting Bucha and for U.S. support of Ukraine and said he would share some details about the counteroffensive against Russia with Christie.
Afterward, he tweeted that it was "very important" that Christie "began his visit to Ukraine with a visit to Bucha to see with his own eyes the threat to freedom and to everyone in the world posed by Russian aggression."
He also thanked all Americans for their support and expressed confidence that Ukraine would prevail in the war against Russia.
Christie told Zelenskyy that the "biggest reason" for his travel to Ukraine was so that he could see for himself what was happening there, so that he could tell other people about it. He said he mentioned to Bucha's mayor that in the U.S., the Ukrainian flag is being raised everywhere. There will always be political arguments, he told Zelenskyy, but he believes the majority of the American people agree on supporting Ukraine.
The New Jersey Republican also praised Zelenskyy and said he supported more substantial aid to help Ukraine win the war against Russia.
A reporter traveling with Christie asked about Americans who think U.S. support of Ukraine is a waste of money that would only prolong the war.
"That's why I came. Americans have become a particularly visual nation," Christie replied. "Things are not as real to them if we don't see them." He added, "I'm here because I want the American people to see what I'm seeing."
Christie is the second Republican running for president to visit Ukraine, following former Vice President Mike Pence, who traveled to Ukraine in June.
- In:
- Chris Christie
veryGood! (17)
Related
- 'Devastation is absolutely heartbreaking' from Southern California wildfire
- Zoë Kravitz Joins Taylor Swift for Stylish NYC Dinner After Channing Tatum Split
- More than 500K space heaters sold on Amazon, TikTok recalled after 7 fires, injury
- US Park Police officer won't be charged in shooting death of 17-year-old woken up by police
- Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are expecting their first child together
- Teddi Mellencamp's Estranged Husband Edwin Arroyave Responds to Divorce
- ATTN: Land’s End Just Revealed Their Christmas Sale—Score up to 60% off Everything (Yes We Mean It)
- Haul out the holly! Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives in New York City
- Mike Tyson is expected to honor late daughter during Jake Paul fight. Here's how.
- Republican Don Bacon wins fifth term to US House representing Nebraska’s Omaha-based district
Ranking
- Is Kyle Richards Finally Ready to File for Divorce From Mauricio Umansky? She Says...
- Michigan jury awards millions to a woman fired after refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine
- Tony Todd, Star of Candyman, Dead at 69
- Dua Lipa Cancels Concert Due to Safety Concerns
- DWTS’ Sasha Farber and Jenn Tran Prove They're Closer Than Ever Amid Romance Rumors
- ‘Saturday Night Live’ to take on a second Trump term after focusing on Harris
- Buccaneers donate $10K to family of teen fan killed in crash on way to 'MNF' game
- Winnipeg Jets improve to 14-1, setting record for best NHL start
Recommendation
-
Kate Spade Outlet’s Early Black Friday Sale – Get a $259 Bag for $59 & More Epic Deals Starting at $25
-
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia files lawsuit vs. NCAA in hopes of gaining extra eligibility
-
You'll Melt Hearing Who Jonathan Bailey Is Most Excited to Watch Wicked With
-
FBI, Justice Department investigating racist mass texts sent following the election
-
New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
-
SEC showdowns with CFP implications lead college football games to watch in Week 11
-
NYC man is charged with insurance fraud in staged car crash captured by dashcam
-
Georgia vs Ole Miss live updates: How to watch game, predictions, odds, Top 25 schedule